2017 Buick Regal Grand National & Buick Regal GNX

After a 30-year hiatus, the Buick Regal Grand National and its high-performance Regal GNX variant are expected to make a return sometime in the 2016-2017 time frame. Here is some information we’ve gathered about the 2017 Regal Grand National and Regal GNX. This page is a continuous work-in-progress and will be updated on a regular basis as we await any official details from General Motors and Buick.

After years of speculation about the return of the Buick Regal Grand National line, our sources tell us that General Motors has decided to bring back the coveted nameplate. GM’s filings with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office solidify the claims. At this point, many of the details related to the vehicles are unknown, such as what body style the vehicles will be available in. However, initial sources tell us that GM is working on a two-door coupe Regal Grand National as well as a four-door sedan for the (non Grand National) Regal line.

Why

It has been reported that General Motors has recognized market demand for a sport-luxury vehicle from Buick. The Buick Regal, which is effectively a rebadged Opel-Vauxhall Insignia based on GM’s front-drive Epsilon II vehicle architecture, was rumored to not be meeting GM’s sales volume expectations. So to serve the market better, GM might have decided to try a different approach with the rear-drive Alpha-based Regal sedan and Regal Grand National coupe.

When

We expect the Regal Grand National to return for the 2017 model year vehicle, with market availability in late 2016. The high-performance Regal GNX should follow shortly thereafter.

The 2017 Regal Grand National will use a variant of GM’s new rear-wheel-drive vehicle architecture known as Alpha. The platform is shared (in different wheelbase configurations) with the 2014 Cadillac CTS, 2013 and newer Cadillac ATS, and the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. Additionally, the 2017 Regal sedan is expected to utilize the architecture, thereby sharing the most mechanical similarities with the two-door Regal Grand National.

Specifications

Full specs will become available when the Regal GN and Regal GNX are announced.

Engines

The 2017 Regal Grand National is expected to offer the following engine choices:

All engines will be direct injected and feature Variable Valve Timing, among other features.

Although specific design elements of the Regal Grand National and Regal GNX is not known at the time of publication, expect the vehicles to sport a cab-rearward style thanks to the RWD Alpha platform. Additionally, the latest Buick styling cues will be present and accounted for.

Occupying the affordable luxury space, the Regal Grand National will compete in a rather interesting space. The model will have a performance-oriented character that will reach its pinnacle in the high-performance Regal GNX trim level. The closest competitor we could think of for the 2017 Regal Grand National is the Hyundai Genesis range, with the closest competitor to the Regal GNX being the R-Spec variants of the Genesis Sedan or Genesis Coupe, depending on what body style GM brings the Regal GN/GNX to market.

Expect pricing for the Regal Grand National to start in the mid-$30,000, and escalate to the high $40,000 range for the range-topping Regal GNX.

While the time frame is unknown and can always change, sources say that a late 2016 availability as a 2017 model year vehicle for the Regal Grand National is a realistic timeframe. The high-performance Regal GNX will come much later.

General Motors will likely build the 2017 Regal Grand National and Regal GNX at its Lansing Grand River assembly plant in Lansing, Michigan alongside other Alpha-based vehicles, including the 2013 and newer Cadillac ATS, CTS, and 2016 Camaro. As of this publication, the plant is the exclusive GM facility building vehicles based on The General’s Alpha vehicle architecture.

2017 Regal Grand National and Regal GNX photos are currently not available; we will update this page as soon as we have something tangible to share.